Marker



Sept. 8, 1936. .L N. LANERI 4 2,053,911

MARKER Filed sept. a, 1954 Patented` Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES P-ATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to the class of devices which are used for Warnings or identification purposes, and an object of my invention, among others, is the production of a device of this type that shall be simple in construction and particularly efficient in operation.

One form of a device embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set outa as well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a front face view of my improved marker.

Figure 2 is a view of a fragment of the marker illustrating a modified form thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail view in section illustrating the manner for securing the buttons in place and on a plane denoted by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view on a plane denoted by the dotted line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a similar view but illustrating the button structure shown in Fig. 2.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional View illustrating another modification.

While my improved marker may be used for various purposes and is therefore not limited as to its utility, yet, as it readily adapts itself for use in connection with number plates commonly employed for the identification of vehicles I have selected such a showing as a disclosure of my invention herein, in the drawing the numeral 'I denoting a number plate which may be composed of any suitable material, as metal, and which may be of any desired form, and which may have any suitable means for attachment to a bracket or other part of a motor vehicle. This plate has suitable characters as letters and/or numbers displayed thereon, these characters 8 in the particular form herein shown being raised above the surface of the plate.

In order to do away with the light which is commonly employed to illuminate these markers I provide the marker with means whereby the light of an approaching vehicle will furnish sufcient illumination for clearly distinguishing the marker. In that form of the structure shown in Fig. 1 the characters 8 are provided with illuminating buttons 9 that may be of any suitable form, and are of any suitable material that will reflect light rays, glass having been found by me to produce satisfactory results. These buttons have rounded faces I l) and are of considerable- (Cl. ll.0--125) thickness to enable them to be removably inserted in sockets in the characters 8. They are tapered to a smaller dimension from the face backwardly and are then enlarged as at II, and a reflector I2 may be placed on the back of each button, this 5 reflector being composed of any suitable material as Quicksilver, or other reflecting substance.

The sockets are made by so punching holes that one or more fingers I4 will be formed on one 10 or more sides of the button, there preferably being two or more of such lingers oppositely disposed to comprise the socket, and as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

These buttons are preferably arranged to de- 15 lineate the larger characters 8 upon the plate, which characters, in the case of an automobile, identify the vehicle.

Such number plates are generally provided with another set of characters I5 which are usually 20 smaller than the other characters and which identify the authority, as a state government, which issues the licenses, such characters also denoting the year for which a license is given.

In order that the marker may be used from year to year, the characters denoting the date as well as the authority which issues the plate, and particularly the last two numerals I6 denoting the date, are removably affixed to the plate. As different years approach allthat is required 30 is to remove either the last or the second and last characters and the plate may therefore be used from yearto year.

These characters I 5 I 6 are preferably composed entirely of reflecting material and with or without a reflecting substance at the back thereof.

The buttons and the characters I 5 I6 hereinabove described may either or both be composed of glass with a reflecting substance at the back thereof to reflect the light rays from an approaching vehicle, or the buttons and the characters I5 I6 may have their faces composed of facets I1 which will of themselves reflect the light, and the larger characters 8 may be composed entirely of glass with the reecting substance at the back or with facets on their faces as above described. From the above description it will be noted that the buttons and characters I5 I6 may be readily inserted in place and be securely held therein for all the purposes of a marker, but if the buttons become broken or are required to be removed for any purpose, a little force is required to remove them. This same remark applies to the characters when constructed to be removably secured in place.

In the structure shown in Fig. '7 the button I8 is secured in any suitable manner in a case I9 of metal or other suitable material, the button having facets as hereinabove described or having a. reflecting substance on its inner end. The case is provided at its inner end With a rib 20, preferably annular, which is inserted in a socket formed by ngers I4 as hereinabove described.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out.

I claim:

1. An automobile marker including a base plate. vehicle identification characters delineated by reflecting faces, and authority identification means comprising separately formed characters each removably secured in place and having their faces composed of facets for reflecting purposes.

2. An automobile marker including a base plate, vehicle identification characters having reflecting faces upon the face of said plate, and authority identification means comprising separately formed characters each removably secured in place and having their faces composed of facets for reflecting purposes.

JAMES N. LANERI. 

